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[pbmserv] Update: new Lingo rules
Hi,
After a few days of play testing, Lingo has been revamped into a new
improved version (which should be the final version). Please challenge me:
lingo challenge yourname camb
and/or:
lingo challenge yourname camb -hex
Let me know if you're interested in joining a four-handed game.
Cameron
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help for the Game of Lingo
Introduction
Welcome to the network Lingo server. The challenge command is
described here. Other commands are the same as for all pbmserv games.
lingo challenge [-pool=number] [-place=number] [-hex] [-small|-full]
[-no_twos] [-repeat] userid1 userid2 [.. userid4]
starts a new game for between two and four players.
The -pool parameter sets the size of the pool that players may play
from each turn. The default pool size is 4 (valid values range from 1
to 10).
The -place parameter specifies how may tiles the player may play each
turn. The default placement size is 2 (valid values range from 1 to
pool size).
The -hex parameter specifies that the game is played with hexagonal
tiles.
The -small parameter specifies that a small set of 30 tiles is used
(approximately one quarter of the Scramble set with blanks removed).
The -full parameter specifies that a full set of 98 tiles is used
(full Scramble set with blanks removed). If neither -small nor -full
is specified then a default set of 49 tiles is used (approximately
half of the Scramble set with blanks removed).
The -no_twos parameter specifies that two-letter words are not
recognised as valid words, and that players will not score points for
playing them.
The -repeat parameter specifies that tiles may be stacked on top of
tiles showing the same letter.
Rules
Each player has a separate pool of four tiles hidden from other
players. Players take turns selecting one or two tiles from their pool
and placing them on the board, possibly stacking them on top of
existing tiles. Tiles must be placed adjacent to at least one other
tile. The tile may not be stacked on top of a tile showing the same
letter (unless the -repeat option is used).
After the move, new tiles are randomly selected from the remaining
tile set to replenish the pool.
Players then score points for words completed in each direction from
the tile(s) they just placed, according to the list of words defined
in the server's Scramble dictionary. Words may be spelt backwards. For
multiple tile placements, all tiles placed that turn must form part of
the same valid word.
The score for each word is given by (total letter value) * (word
length - 1). For instance, the word HAY would score 18 pts as (H=4 +
A=1 + Y=4) * (length-1=2).
Only the highest scoring word in each direction is counted. If more
than one word is formed in a turn, then the combined word score is
multiplied by the number of words.
The game ends when any player run out of tiles. The player with the
highest score wins.
Examples
The following example shows a game in its early stages. Fred has just
played the letter I (capitalised) to complete the words IT and BIZ for
a total of 60 pts. Note that words do not have to fill the entire line
to be counted.
+---+ +---+ +---+
| R | | Y | | T |
+---+ +---+ +---+
1 4 1
a b c d e
1 1
+---+---+
2 | z s | 2
+ +---+
3 | I t g | 3
+ +---+
4 | b w | 4
+---+---+
5 5
a b c d e
fred made the words IT and BIZ for a total of (2 + 28) x 2 = 60 pts.
fred's score is 65.
ted's score is 12.
The following example shows a game of hexagonal Lingo in action. Ted
has just played D and C (capitalised) to form the words DIG, DOC and
DYE for a total of 108 pts. Note that since Ted played more than one
tile, they both had to form part of the the same word (DOC).
__ __ __
/I \ /E \ /T \
\__/ \__/ \__/
1 1 1
a b c d e f g
1 1
2 __ 2
3 __ __/e \ 3
4 /f \__/y __/ 4
5 \__ D / __ 5
6 \ i \__/w \ 6
7 /o __ g __/ 7
8 \ / \__/ 8
9 /C \ 9
10 \__/ 10
11 11
a b c d e f g
ted made the words DIG, DOC and DYE for a total of (10 + 12 + 14) x 3 = 108
pts.
fred's score is 84.
ted's score is 157.
Notes
There is no first move equaliser as the game is reasonably balanced.
The opening player gets to score first, but this move generally opens
up even better scoring opportunites for subsequent players.
The hexagonal game offers more scope for play and allows much higher
scores. Up to five words may be made each turn by placing two tiles,
whereas a maximum of only three words per turn are possible in the
square game.
Having a separate hidden pool for each player provides richer tactics
and encourages longer words and higher scores. It also makes the game
easier to play in real life, since players are able to study their
hand with full knowledge during the opponent's turn, as in Scramble.
Syntax
The move syntax is:
lingo move board# userid password ac7
lingo move board# userid password ac7,re7
Both of these commands will place the tile A at board coordinate c7.
The last example will also place the tile R at board coordinate e7.
Letter Distribution
The following table shows the English letter distribution used for
Lingo (identical to Scramble):
Letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z (-)
How many: 9 2 2 412 2 3 2 9 1 1 4 2 6 8 2 1 6 4 6 4 2 2 1 2 1 (2)
Value: 1 3 3 2 1 4 2 4 1 8 5 1 3 1 1 310 1 1 1 1 4 4 8 410 (0)
History
Lingo was devised by Cameron Browne in 2005.
The name "Lingo" refers to the fact that the game involves fragments
of a language (like a lingo), scoring lines of characters (like
bingo), a certain amount of randomness (like Ringo), often throws up
bizarre new words (like a gringo), and is a bit of a mongrel (like a
dingo).
Implementation and Help file by Cameron Browne, August 2005.